Lagos Leather Fair leads the charge in elevating African leather ecosystem

Onome Amuge

The Lagos Leather Fair, an annual event showcasing Africa’s leather industry, has announced its 2024 edition with the theme “Levelling Up.” The fair aims to stimulate growth within the African leather ecosystem by gathering leather enthusiasts, designers, manufacturers, suppliers, and industry partners from around the world.

Now in its seventh year, the Lagos Leather Fair will offer a thoughtfully curated experience highlighting the diverse cultures, creativity, and craftsmanship found across the African continent. 

In collaboration with partners and sponsors, this year’s LLF will engage attendees in discussions and initiatives designed to enhance the leather ecosystem. Key focus areas include improving socioeconomic impact, promoting sustainable and innovative practices, fostering global partnerships, enhancing industry competition, and boosting supply chain efficiency within the sector.

Spearheaded by Femi Olayebi, Lagos Leather Fair, stands as the third largest leather fair in Africa, following its South African and Ethiopian counterparts in delivering distinct value across the continent. From the 29th to the 30th of June, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, the event will feature workshops, masterclasses, awards, exhibitions of talented leather designers and artists, investor pitches from emerging designers (Pitch-A-Leather-Biz), a runway presentation styled by Toyin Ogundadegbe, The Style Infidel, as well as a special immersive leather installation – Beyond the Hide – curated by Kanyinsade Ademuson, founder of the architectural firm, Seventh Space.  

“Over the years, hosting the Lagos Leather Fair has filled us with purpose to do more and advance the African leather industry,” says Femi Olayebi, Founder of LLF. 

According to Olayebi, “LLF is a celebration of the potential being achieved through locally sourced craftmanship and this year, we are partnering with extremely talented individuals to create an engaging experience that invites participants and attendees to join us on that journey. We are very thankful to our sponsors and collaborators for helping us curate this valuable tradition that continues to elevate the African leather ecosystem.” 

The Lagos Leather Fair 2024 will feature expert-led sessions to educate attendees on various topics such as brand positioning, visibility, sourcing, manufacturing solutions, photography, and leveraging AI tools across the value chain. 

Additionally, the LLF Awards will celebrate innovation and creativity in the industry by recognizing designers’ efforts across several categories:

• Most Innovative Designer Award
• Trailblazer Award
• Brand Excellence Award
• Best Booth Design Award
• Best Emerging Designer Award
• Best Curated Instagram Page Award

The Lagos Leather Fair has seen remarkable growth over the years, with the previous edition welcoming over 3,500 attendees. Each year, the event creates a dynamic and unique experience, showcasing the talents of leather creatives and the diverse range of African leather products.